I’ve just returned from an incredible stay in Erieau, Ontario.  This charming small city, is home to great sport fishing, a fantastic beach and lively community. I don’t know about you but I had no idea Erieau existed and I’m so glad that it’s now on my radar. 

For some reason I’ve been driving north on the 401 or east along the 401 but never west. Silly me!! It’s so close to Toronto and there’s way less traffic.

The highlight of the trip was a fishing trip with J&P Charters. I’ve never been on a chartered fishing trip but it’s always been on my bucket list. Lake Erie is known for it’s Walleye and Rainbow Trout and that’s exactly what we caught.

I couldn’t have been happier with this experience. Not to mention that the weather and the water conditions were perfect too.

J&P Fishing Charters has everything you need..a) a well equipped boat b) state of the art technology c) and 26 years of experience. What more could you ask for? Not to mention, Captain Paul will clean the fish so you can take it home! (Which we did).

One great thing about this experience is you don’t have to have any experience to go out on a fishing charter. While on the boat, I decided to leave the reeling up to the experts (Captain Paul and his son Tyler) however they are more than happy to assist you and give you the guidance you need to reel in your catch!! The choice is yours.

With the help of Tyler, my boyfriend reeled in the biggest catch of the day (about an 8 pound Walleye ) and Tyler was very helpful and walked him thru the entire process of  reeling it in.

We got off the boat at 6:30 pm and by 8:30 pm we were perched at Molly and OJ’s restaurant eating our catch of the day cooked up by the chef.  Does not get any fresher! Our dinner included soup, salad, dessert and the fresh fish that we had just caught, all for $15 per person. INCREDIBLE.!

After dinner, we relaxed at the Bayside Brewing Company.  Yes – Erieau has a microbrewery and it’s right across from the marina!! Of course I had a flight of beer. They had a chocolate mint beer that was most interesting and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

We stayed at Molly & OJ’s Lakeside Cabin Rentals, in a very clean and well equipped cabin (ie fridge, cutlery, and microwave) that was located just steps away from their private beach. There were bicycles, paddle boards and a kayak too but I was content to just go for a swim and relax.

This stunning private beach was just steps away!

For breakfast we went to The Galley Grill and Pub and we certainly enjoyed a unique breakfast that included eggs over easy, fried potatoes and cheese and several pieces of fried perch. 

I figured including fish in every meal was the right thing to do since Erieau is known for its fresh catch.

If you are considering a trip to Ontario’s Southwest for a fresh foodie adventure, check out oswculinary.com. You can also enter to win a Dream Foodie Escape Contest. 

Sadly we didn’t have time to go to Rondeau Provincial Park but I’m already thinking about going camping there next year.

In fact, on our entire drive back to Toronto (which was not a nightmare, unlike some other routes), I couldn’t stop thinking about this unique trip.

For more information:

Molly & OJ’s: 875 Mariners Rd, Erieau, ON (519) 676 8812

Bayside Brewery and Pub: 970 Ross Lane, Erieau ON (519) 676 1888

J & P Charters:  (519) 745-1992  or  cell: (519) 897 1042

Galley Grill Pub: 1005 Vilder Ave, Erieau, ON  (519) 676 4469

Huge thanks to the Ontario’s Southwest for helping set up this amazing experience.

Disclosure: I was compensated for this trip however all opinions are my own.

Summer is over but that doesn’t mean that there’s any shortage of events to go to! Here’s a list of some of events that are on my radar.   in my calendar and they should be in your calendar too!

1. TIFF. September 10 – 20, 2015

Even if you don’t go to a movie, head downtown and hang out near any of the venues or even a hotel lobby to see how Toronto explodes during this festival.

Did you know that the Toronto International Film Festival® invites audiences to step outside the theatre for a Festival Street initiative?  From September 10 to 13, King Street West between Peter and University Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic and transformed into a pedestrian paradise free for all to enjoy.

2. The Toronto Garlic Festival.  Sunday September 20, Wychwood Barns

I’ve been going to this festival for years and always delighted to see how creative the vendors can get. Please note the new location (which I think is great news by the way).

3. Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. September 18 – 20, Nathan Phillips Square.

Never been to this event but it’s now in my calendar.

4. Toronto Food and Wine , September 18 – 20, Evergreen Brickworks

Sample, sip and savour your way through the festival, get up close and personal with your favourite celebrity chefs and culinary professionals, experience once in a lifetime dining experiences, relax in the exclusive VIP lounge, enjoy book signings, attend exciting trade seminars, and much more.

5. Soupalicious, Sunday September 27th at Wychwood Barns from noon to 3:30 pm. I absolutely adore this event as it’s well organized, supports a great initiative, and features dozens of great restaurants that serve tasty, tasty soups. Just make sure to buy your tickets in advance and show up early!!

September is going to be a busy month. (but in a good way).

Hope to bump into you at one of the above mentioned events.

Cheers!!

 

 

I’ve been making lunches for a while now as I have a daughter who is almost 16 and a son who is 19. I’m not going to do the math (cause I hate math) but I’m pretty sure I’ve made A LOT of lunches over the years.

In a recent survey of 1,000 GTA parents, Longo’s delved into the topic of getting back into the school year routine. Here are a few highlights:

·While 15 percent of parents confess they would rather walk over hot coals than make their kids’ lunches every day, the majority don’t mind the weekday routine.

· This isn’t just about what moms think –Forty-six percent of dads take ownership of school lunches and enjoy the job (81 percent of men enjoy packing lunch vs 76 percent of women).

– One quarter of respondents say they lose their meal-making mojo by the second week of school. That number increases to half by Thanksgiving

For my kids, lunches have always revolved around a sandwich, a fruit, a veggie, 2 snacks and a drink.  Actually the school they attended sent out letters about ideal lunches and snacks!

Here are my 5 tips:

1) Invest in a Thermos. They aren’t cheap but they are SO worth it. I’ve stuffed them with rice/veggies, pasta and soup. It’s a nice alternative to a sandwich and your kids might enjoy something hot too.

2) TALK to your kids about their favorite snacks, favorite veggies and fruit. I’m not kidding but I’m still doing this as it seems to constantly change.  I now pack – sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, hummus, a sandwich, sliced apple, and water. However I put money on it, that this list will change in 6 months!!

3) Head to Longo’s to take advantage of their “snack and go” items. I consider this a “treat” but I know that my daughter will enjoy it and it saves me a bit of time too. Longo’s has a fantastic website with all sorts of great information to inspire you to make those 5 lunches each and every week!

4) Mix it up a bit. Here’s what I mean … instead of a sandwich I’ve been wrapping up a veggie hot dog in a whole wheat tortilla!

5. Put a note in your childs lunch box every once in a while. My mom did this for me and I still remember it.

 

6. Check out the Longo’s Recipe Database for some inspirational recipes. This will really help. Trust. Me.

September is truly a crazy month for parents – there’s school supplies to buy, outfits to purchase, forms to fill out and all those orientation meetings etc. If you find you are pressed for time, don’t forget that  Grocery Gateway  might come in handy at this time of year.

For more information:

wwww.longos.com

Twitter: @longosmarkets

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LongosMarkets

Disclosure: I’ve been compensated for this post, however all my opinions are my own.

 

Recently I had family visiting from abroad (London and Israel to be exact). They had no interest in visiting attractions or museums and basically just wanted to walk around. I was pretty happy with that objective. LOL

So here’s where I took them:

a) Breakfast at Fika in Kensington Market. (78 Kensington Ave)

I knew they would like the space and the food and I was correct.

b) I thought I was a great tour guide as I introduced my visitors to a unique store,  Cocktail Emporium.  (20 Kensington Ave).  For some reason I’ve never been to this place (my bad). We loved milling around the store – someone has truly curated an amazing assortment of  “all things associated with Cocktails”.

c) We then proceeded to Queen St. West so that I could take them to the new Fluevog store. (686 Queen St. W) Um…three pairs of shoes were purchased, which means that it was a hit. Their cool bank vault made an ideal backdrop for a photo.

d) Then it was time for lunch. I decided that Gusto 101 would be the perfect place and indeed everyone enjoyed their meal. However the shining star was their Sangria. One word to describe it:  PERFECT. Something tells me I will be returning for another pitcher, in the near future.

d) Actually there was one attraction that we all attended; the Andy Warhol Revisited Pop Up Exhibit that’s now taking place at 77 Bloor St. W. This exhibit will only be in Toronto till Dec 31 and it’s worth checking out. Tickets: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for youth and students.

I had a fantastic time hanging out with my family and enjoyed my role as “tour guide”. Curious to know where you would take visitors if they mentioned to you that they weren’t interested in museums or attractions!! Please do share.

 

 

 

It’s been a busy weekend and I promised myself that I would do NOTHING this weekend. No restaurant reservations, no parties to go to, no entertaining – just me and the couch.

Well it kind of worked out that way. LOL.

On Friday night I googled “what to do in Toronto this weekend”. Dangerous thing to do for someone who wanted to do NOTHING. Guess what I saw? This flyer.

Immediately I knew that my plans had changed,  and now I would be heading out to Archibald’s Winery in Bowmanville. Guess what? I have no regrets.

It was the perfect sized event with just the right amount of food, beer and cider vendors.

There was incredible food – which made my taste buds happy and my wallet happy too! Most items were $2 to $3 dollars – how could I say no?

And of course there was cider and beer! I was delighted to see Shiny Apple Cider participating as I recently got introduced to this new cider that is made from 100% Ontario Apples and that’s gluten free and vegan too.

Archibald’s Winery put on a well organized event and I truly hope there’s a 2nd annual Bacon and Cider Festival next year.

For more information:

Website: www.archibaldswinery.com

Twitter: @archibaldswinery

I was tired of my standard salmon recipes, so I did some research on the internet and found a new recipe that appealed to me. I love how easy it is to find a new recipe these days. Long gone are the days where I use to sit at the kitchen table sifting thru 6 cookbooks. (or more)

The recipe only included a few ingredients and sure enough..I had most of them in my fridge and pantry.

Here’s the official recipe for Garlic Panko Salmon (from www.primaverakitchen.com. I used half of the recipe (errr..the ingredients) and then used my own method. Keep reading!!

3. In my Cuisinart Food Processor – I whizzed up the parsley, lemon, garlic and panko bread crumbs.

4. Spread this mixture over the salmon

5. Bake for 30-40 minutes (depending on the size of your salmon)

6. Serve Warm!

Happy Cooking.

 

 

I generally don’t include photos of myself in blog posts, but this photo truly reflects how I was feeling at the CNE media preview. I just couldn’t stop smiling. Please continue reading so you can find out why I was smiling!!

The food served at the CNE is creative, fun, tasty, and memorable!! There is a reason why more than a million people flock to the CNE every year. Here’s what caught my attention at this year’s CNE media preview.

1. Tim Hortons served a Honey Dijon Ham  Pretzel Donut Sandwich that was simply too good for words. I had one bite – then two bites – and then I had to force myself to put it down. I’m still thinking about this sandwich as I write about it as I wanted to eat the ENTIRE thing.

2. Tim Hortons also served  two Timbits (cotton candy and cola) as well as a Tim Horton Poutine. It’s described as a sweet “poutine” made out of Timbits  and decked out in delicious decadent dessert toppings. I had the Timbits (I’m a huge fan) but will have to return for the poutine!!

3. Fran’s Restaurant Deep Fried Rice Pudding. This item really stood out as it was the perfect combo of crunchy and creamy. I wish this was on their menu all year long!!  (are you listening Fran’s Restaurant?).

4. This Frosted Flake Battered Chicken on a Stick  (from Iron Skillet Sirloin Tips) also caught my attention. There was something about mixing sweet with savoury, plus a bit crunchy – that really appealed to me. It was truly Grreaaaaat. (Tony the Tiger would approve. I’m sure of it).

6. Bacon Wrapped Grilled Cheese from Bacon Nation: 6 strips of bacon weaved around a grilled cheese sandwich. Need I say more? I will happily run a few more kilometres so I could consume one of these sandwiches!

I hope this blog post has inspired you to head the CNE for some imaginative offerings!!

For more information:

Website: www.theex.com

Dates: Aug 21, 2015 to Sept 7, 2015,

Location: Exhibition Place, Toronto

Twitter: @LetsGoToTheEx

Instagram: @LetsGoToTheEx

 

 

 

 

I’ve just returned from a weekend in Mont -Tremblant. I hadn’t been there in over 2 decades so I was ready for a weekend of great food and some R & R as well. (um, mission accomplished!)

Let’s address the ‘eating’ portion of the weekend first! Highlights of my weekend included two meals that consisted of a pogo and poutine (from Patate Ben -Venu and La Roulotte).  I also had escargot for dinner one night along with pate and a duck confit salad (Restaurant Des Petites Ventres). I swear I will be eating a lot of egg whites and kale salad this week to make up for my unhealthy diet over the weekend!

The relaxing portion of my trip included a trip to Scandinave Spa  for a massage and to take advantage of their water therapy. What a treat. Unlike other spas that I’ve been to – this one was the quietest as they really do enforce a “no talking” policy.

Relaxation to me, also means spending a bit of time touring the area! Take a peek at this stunning scenery.

There was one part of the weekend that wasn’t so relaxing, as we woke up at 6 a.m, to watch the athletes commence the swim portion of the Mont -Tremblant IRONMAN. It was incredible to see 2500 bikes parked in the coral, the swim, and watch the first elite athlete get out of the water and run towards his bike. This race includes a: 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, 42.2 km run and these athletes are in top physical shape to get thru this challenge!

 Sadly there was not enough time to participate in the many activities that Mont -Tremblant has to offer …ie zip lining, going to the top of the mountain, the luge, mountain biking and more.

I guess this means, that we will just have to return to Mont-Tremblant!!

 

 

As you know, I kind of keep my eye out for new restaurants, coffee shops and other interesting places! It’s just the way I roll.

Here’s two concepts that I recently discovered:

1. SQUISH Candies

This is a gourmet candy store (err, artisanal candy store) that just opened it’s first Ontario Store on the concourse level of the Bay (176 Yonge St). They have a roster of 100 different gummies, with flavour profiles to match any mood. Not to mention that these gummies are vegan, non GMO, organic, dairy free, and have no artificial flavour or colours!

I had the good fortune to chat with the lovely founder (Sarah Segal) who launched this idea in Montreal in 2014.

Sarah was the chief tea developer and head of product development for David’s Tea and it’s evident that SQUISH is going to have the same “marketing genius” that David’s Tea has.

2. MAMAN – Toronto:

Maman, is a New York City bakery and cafe that recently opened a second location at First Canadian Place on the Mezzanine Level (100 King St W). One of the owners is originally from Toronto so it made perfect sense to bring the concept back to her hometown.

This is what the bakery looks like on the outside (plus there’s a magnificent patio).

On the inside, there’s communal harvest tables and a very “European” feel to the space. What’s great about this bakery is that they also serve pretty awesome cocktails!! I like how they are mixing it up a bit and you can drop by for a coffee, breakfast, lunch, a cocktail or from cinq-a- sept. (5 to 7 pm).

Hours of operation are Monday to Wednesday from 7am to 7pm, and Thursday and Friday from 7am to 9pm for breakfast, lunch and cinq-á-sept. The café and bakery will be closed on weekends.

For more information:

SQUISH Candy: The Bay (176 Yonge St) – Concourse Level. Twitter: @SquishCandy, Instagram: @SquishCanady, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squishcandy

Maman Toronto: First Canadian Place (100 King St. W)  – Mezzanine Level, Twitter: @MamanToronto, Instagram: @_MamanToronto_; Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mamantoronto

Long weekends are the perfect time to host a brunch. I started off with a trip to Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market which provided inspiration to go home and start cooking.

For example: I bought a package of this…which I had never seen before and found out that it was totally edible and a member of the legume family!

Here’s what I managed to make in slightly over 2 hours:

1. Chopped Egg: Not only did I add a little cream cheese, but I added a touch of Kozlik’s Horseradish mustard to it. Plus..I decorated the plate with the above mentioned flowers.

2. Chopped Tuna. Here’s my little secret…add a touch of cream cheese when you mix up the tuna and the mayo together.

3. Salad: I bought a package of organic salad mix with edible flowers and threw it in the bowl with some more cut up romaine. How pretty is this?

4. Beet Borsht shooters: These shooters certainly were a conversation starter when guests arrived.

5. Asparagus Tart: SO. EASY. TO. MAKE. Click here for the recipe.

6. Blueberry Cobbler; Um…my guests really liked it. Can you tell? Click here for the recipe.

7. Mint Pea Salad: Always a summer hit however I forgot to take a photo. Can you believe?

8. Avocado Corn Salad: I added a small amount of jalapeno and this made all the difference. Click here for the recipe.

9. Roasted Tomato/Roasted Garlic with St. Albert Twisted Cheese on Pumpernickel Rounds

At the buffet, there were bagels, a small cheese tray, banana muffins and a cucumber salad too but I’m too tired to post anymore photos. Plus I don’t want to bore you!! However, here’s what the buffet looked like.

Can’t wait to entertain again!!

Happy Cooking.